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On my 49th birthday, I purchased Ol’ Butch from my long time, adventurous, globe trotting, scoundrel pal Thomas Moore. He was about to leave the U.S. for parts unknown and not returning.

I was both surprised that he wanted to let Ol’ Butch go and happy that he thought of me first. I’d been after him to auction off Ol’ Butch for about 7 years.

Here’s the story of this legendary, well travelled blade in Thomas Moore’s own words.

Ol’ Butch

By Thomas D. Moore

(aka Tomahawk, Pathfinder Tom, Whiskey Jack)

I was sitting around yesterday afternoon, sippin’ a Whiskey and soda, with my Green river knife “Ol’ Butch” hanging around my neck. the sun was warm on my chest, I began to notice a slight tainted fat smell…..I soon discovered the source of the Ambiance as the handle on my Green river Knife.

Unsheathing the blade, I took a long sniff of the handle, and was flooded with memories of past expeditions, wilderness adventures, countries, people, war zones, horses and mules, skinned deer, elk and moose – the list goes on.

This knife has been with me for 23 years. I bought it in a junk shop in Moab, Utah back in 1989 for the ridiculous price of $6.00. Later on I made a sheath for it from some raw hide salvaged from a dead horse I discovered while on a trip in the Utah desert. The handle has always been used as the socket for hundreds of my bow and drill, friction fires.

My knife has been to 87 countries, 6 war zones and 5 continents.

Ol’ Butch is a comforting friend and a constant companion.

I have to kinda chuckle at the knife kooks I read about online that ask silly questions like;

“How do I force a patina on my new Mora?”

– First of all – throw away the Mora, get a Green River and USE IT. Get off of your computers, get out into the woods, deserts, jungles and mountains. Split some wood, cut some meat (and a finger or two), build some fires, defend yourself, and simply USE the Knife!

Tomahawk – Scouts out!

So that’s the story of Ol’Butch.

The lesson here is to go buy or make yourself a blade and get out and use the dern thing.